Ten a Penny's trip north was worth it

EmailARCADIA, Calif. - Ten a Penny did not have the sort of September that trainer Craig Dollase had planned.

First, the colt was denied a berth to the $400,000 Del Mar Derby Sept. 3 when he did not have enough earnings to draw into the field. As a consolation, Ten a Penny started in the $75,000 Bay Meadows Derby on Sept.o29, but was beaten a head by Unusual Suspect.

Dollase and Ten a Penny's owners, Tom Arndt and Joe Masino, are hoping that October goes better. Ten a Penny starts in Saturday's $150,000 Oak Tree Derby over 1 1/8 miles on turf at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting. A strong performance there could lead to a start in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 25.

"He bounced out of it really well," Dollase said of the Bay Meadows Derby. "It's a two-week turnaround, but I'm glad we did it. He got a lot out of it, conditioning-wise."

Ten a Penny was bought over the summer, brought over from England, and made a quick splash on this circuit, winning a division of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar July 18 in his U.S. debut. He returned to finish fourth to Medici Code in the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap, racing near the front that day.

Dollase is hoping that Ten a Penny will get an ideal trip in the Oak Tree Derby, which has drawn a field of 10.

"He's the type of horse that he can be wrapped up and save ground," Dollase said. "He can move out and make a European-type finish, kind of like he did in the Oceanside. I'm sure in a 10-horse field we'll get some pace."

The race has three horses that started in the Del Mar Derby - runner-up Augment, fourth-place finisher Unusual Suspect, and sixth-place finisher Stoneside, who was the 6-5 favorite. There are two European imports - Asperity, a Group 3 winner in France in June, and Angelonmyshoulder, a maiden winner in Ireland.

For the connections of many entrants, including Ten a Penny, the Hollywood Derby is an enticing goal.

"We'll have to get through Saturday first," Dollase said. "I think he has the potential to do it."

The Oak Tree Derby will be run without the first- and third-place finishers in the Del Mar Derby - Medici Code and Worldly - who are candidates for the Hollywood Derby.

Medici Code finished fifth in the Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park last Saturday. Assistant trainer Cris Vienna said an assistant starter bit Medici Code's ear before the start to get him to settle in the gate, and that the incident distracted Medici Code.

"It's hard to say if he didn't like the track or he was in a bad mood," said Vienna, the son of trainer Darrell Vienna. "I'd lean to him not liking the track."

Medici Code won a division of the Oceanside Stakes and the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar, but tested positive for excessive levels of the bronchodilator clenbuterol after both of those races, according to the California Horse Racing Board. Darrell Vienna said last week that "no one at my direction or my instruction administered any inappropriate medication or drug to the horse." A hearing has yet to be scheduled in the case.

Worldly was found to be suffering from a throat ulcer after the Del Mar Derby, which has since healed, trainer Ben Cecil said.

The Tin Man will target Citation

The Tin Man, second in the Gradeo1 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship last Saturday, will pass the $3omillion Breeders' Cup Turf at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27 in favor of the $400,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park Nov. 23, trainer Richard Mandella said Wednesday.

Mandella said The Tin Man's loss to Artiste Royal in the Hirsch and the three-week turnaround to the Breeders' Cup were the main factors in his decision to keep the 9-year-old gelding in California.

"He didn't run badly, but not strong enough that I think I can come back against the world," Mandella said. "We'll give him more time and think of the Citation.

"He does well at a mile and a half, but he's 9 and I think it would be asking too much to ship and run back in three weeks. It's not like we're going to find an easier group."

The Grade 1 Citation is run over 1o1/16 miles on turf.

All-sources handle up

The Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting has shown 14 percent growth in all-sources handle through Monday, according to Oak Tree executive vice president Sherwood Chillingworth.

Chillingworth said on Wednesday that Oak Tree has had an all-sources handle of $114.9 million during the first 11 days of the six-week meeting, which runs through Nov. 4. He said that ontrack attendance has been "flat" and that ontrack handle is down 1 percent.

"I've been pretty pleased," he said. "We're 1 percent down in ontrack handle and we're up in every other category.

"We're very happy with the meeting. The one thing I would like to see improvement in is the ontrack handle. I thought it would be up by this time."

Chillingworth said the recent growth in handle will not necessarily translate into a purse increase, pending handle results in the next few weeks.

"All in all, the meeting has been going very well," he said.

Sindy Jacobson changes hands

Sindy Jacobson, undefeated in two starts, has been purchased by Gary Barber and the Team Valor syndicate and transferred from Mike Mitchell to John Sadler, Sadler said on Wednesday.

A 2-year-old filly, Sindy Jacobson is being considered for the $75,000 Anoakia Stakes over six furlongs on Oct. 20, Sadler said.

"We've only had her since Saturday, but that is out there for her," Sadler said.

Previously owned by Tommy Hutton's Dream Stable, Sindy Jacobson won a $40,000 claiming race for maidens by two lengths at Del Mar on Aug. 31, and returned to win a starter allowance over 6 1/2 furlongs by 6 1/2 lengths.

* Wagering was not available on Wednesday's program at the Big Fresno Fair at Southern California racetracks and simulcast locations because of a production problem with racetrack programs.